Core Viewpoint - Group 1 Automotive, Inc. is set to release its financial results for the second quarter of 2024 on July 24, 2024, before market opening, followed by a conference call to discuss the results [3]. Company Overview - Group 1 operates 206 automotive dealerships, 270 franchises, and 42 collision centers in the U.S. and U.K., offering 35 brands of automobiles [2]. - The company engages in selling new and used cars and light trucks, arranging vehicle financing, selling service and insurance contracts, and providing automotive maintenance and repair services [2]. Conference Call Details - The conference call will take place on July 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. ET, with participation from the company's senior management team [3]. - Investors can access the call live via telephone or through a webcast, with a replay available for 30 days [1][4].

Group 1's Chief Executive Officer Daryl Kenningham stated, "We are delighted to expand our relationship with Mercedes-Benz while growing our operations in the U.K. This brand is outstanding and our ability to add these dealerships to our portfolio is a very positive growth action and presents an opportunity to further drive profitable growth for our shareholders." ABOUT GROUP 1 AUTOMOTIVE, INC. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Investor contacts: Terry Bratton Manager, Investor Relations Group 1 Automotive, Inc. [ ...

Cybersecurity Incident Impact - The cybersecurity incident experienced by CDK Global LLC has disrupted Group 1 Automotive's business applications and processes in its U.S. operations that rely on CDK's dealers' systems [5] - Group 1 immediately activated its cyber incident response procedures and took measures to protect and isolate its systems from CDK's platform [1] - All Group 1 U.S. dealerships continue to conduct business using alternative processes until CDK's systems are restored [1] - Group 1's U.K. dealerships are not impacted by the CDK service outage as they do not use CDK's systems [1] Company Overview - Group 1 Automotive, Inc. is a Fortune 300 automotive retailer with 202 dealerships located in the U.S. and U.K. [5] - The company owns and operates 202 automotive dealerships, 264 franchises, and 42 collision centers offering 35 brands of automobiles [9] - Through its dealerships and omni-channel platform, Group 1 sells new and used cars and light trucks, arranges vehicle financing, sells service and insurance contracts, provides maintenance and repair services, and sells vehicle parts [9] Response and Monitoring - Group 1's associates are focused on delivering the best possible customer experience during the outage [6] - The company is closely monitoring the situation and will take additional action if necessary [8] - CDK has advised that the restoration of the dealer management system will require several days, not weeks, but the timing for other impacted applications remains unclear [8] Additional Information - Group 1 discloses additional information about the company, its business, and its results of operations on its websites and social media platforms [7]

Core Viewpoint - Group 1 Automotive reported mixed financial results for Q1 2024, with adjusted EPS missing expectations while net sales exceeded estimates, indicating potential challenges ahead for the company [2][3]. Financial Performance - Adjusted EPS for Q1 2024 was $9.49, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.52 and declining 13.2% year over year [2]. - Net sales reached $4.5 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.3 billion and increasing from $4.13 billion in the same quarter last year [2]. Segment Performance - New vehicle retail sales increased 11.6% year over year to $2.18 billion, with total retail new vehicles sold at 44,302 units, up 11.7% from the previous year [3]. - Used-vehicle retail sales rose 5% year over year to $1.42 billion, with total retail used vehicles sold at 49,183 units, an increase of 8.2% [4]. - Used-vehicle wholesale sales fell 5.3% year over year to $106 million, resulting in a gross loss of $0.9 million [5]. - Parts and Service revenues increased 5.1% year over year to $576.2 million, with gross profit rising 5.3% to $313 million [5]. Geographic Performance - U.S. business segment revenues climbed 9.1% year over year to $3.65 billion, with gross profit growing 3.5% to $639.1 million [6]. - U.K. business segment revenues rose 4.7% year over year to $824.8 million, although gross profit decreased 6.2% to $103.5 million [7]. Financial Position - Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 2.9% year over year to $476.1 million [8]. - Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $41.9 million as of March 31, 2024, down from $57.2 million at the end of 2023 [8]. - Total debt rose to $2.6 billion as of March 31, 2024, up from $2.1 billion at the end of 2023 [8]. Shareholder Actions - During the quarter, Group 1 repurchased 203,350 shares at an average price of $264.41 per share, totaling $53.8 million [9]. - The company has $89.6 million remaining on its authorized stock buyback program [9]. Market Outlook - Group 1 Automotive holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expectations for an in-line return from the stock in the coming months [12]. - The company has a Growth Score of B, a Momentum Score of F, and a Value Score of A, placing it in the top 20% for the value investment strategy [11].

HOUSTON, May 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI) ("Group 1" or the "Company"), a Fortune 300 automotive retailer with 203 dealerships located in the U.S. and U.K., today announced its board of directors approved a new share repurchase authorization of $250 million, and also declared a quarterly dividend.  Share Repurchase Authorization IncreaseThe Company announced that its board of directors increased the Company's common share repurchase authorization by $161 million to $250 mill ...

Momentum investing is essentially the opposite of the tried-and-tested Wall Street adage -- "buy low and sell high." Investors following this investing style typically avoid betting on cheap stocks and waiting long for them to recover. They believe instead that one could make far more money in lesser time by "buying high and selling higher."Everyone likes betting on fast-moving trending stocks, but it isn't easy to determine the right entry point. These stocks often lose momentum when their future growth po ...

HOUSTON, April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI) ("Group 1" or the "Company"), a Fortune 300 automotive retailer with 203 dealerships located in the U.S. and U.K., today announced that it has completed a $500 million upsize in its revolving syndicated credit facility to $2.5 billion with 20 financial institutions, which will expire in March 2027 and can be expanded to $3.0 billion total availability. Lenders in the syndicated facility include six manufacturer-affiliated finance c ...

[PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION](index=5&type=section&id=PART%20I.%20FINANCIAL%20INFORMATION) [Financial Statements](index=5&type=section&id=Item%201.%20Financial%20Statements) Presents unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for Q1 2024, including Balance Sheets, Statements of Operations, and Cash Flows | Financial Metric | March 31, 2024 (in millions) | December 31, 2023 (in millions) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Assets** | | | | Total Current Assets | $2,834.8 | $2,791.3 | | Total Assets | $8,509.9 | $7,774.1 | | **Liabilities & Equity** | | | | Total Current Liabilities | $2,722.0 | $2,505.7 | | Total Liabilities | $5,737.7 | $5,099.7 | | Total Stockholders' Equity | $2,772.4 | $2,674.4 | | Income Statement Item | Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 (in millions) | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 (in millions) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Total Revenues | $4,470.5 | $4,130.0 | | Gross Profit | $742.6 | $727.9 | | Income from Operations | $242.6 | $241.5 | | Net Income | $147.9 | $158.4 | | Diluted EPS | $10.80 | $11.10 | | Cash Flow Activity | Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 (in millions) | Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 (in millions) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Net cash provided by operating activities | $253.9 | $143.4 | | Net cash used in investing activities | $(618.2) | $(104.6) | | Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | $349.4 | $(67.0) | | Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | $(15.3) | $(26.6) | - During Q1 2024, the company acquired nine U.S. dealerships for aggregate consideration of **$690.4 million** and disposed of six U.S. dealerships, recording a net pre-tax gain of **$30.9 million**[35](index=35&type=chunk)[39](index=39&type=chunk) - In April 2024, the company announced a definitive agreement to acquire 54 dealerships in the U.K. from Inchcape plc for approximately **$439 million**, with the transaction expected to close in Q3 2024[37](index=37&type=chunk) [Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations](index=20&type=section&id=Item%202.%20Management%27s%20Discussion%20and%20Analysis%20of%20Financial%20Condition%20and%20Results%20of%20Operations) Management discusses Q1 2024 performance, highlighting revenue growth, segment results, margin pressures, increased interest expenses, and liquidity [Overview and Recent Events](index=20&type=section&id=Overview%20and%20Recent%20Events) Overview of business and recent events, including new EPA emissions standards, increased inventory, Port of Baltimore impact, and macroeconomic pressures - The EPA finalized new, stricter emissions standards for light and medium-duty vehicles for model years **2027-2032**, which may significantly impact the future mix and demand for vehicles[83](index=83&type=chunk) - New vehicle inventory days' supply increased to approximately **37 days** in Q1 2024, compared to **25 days** in Q1 2023, due to improved manufacturer production[84](index=84&type=chunk) - The indefinite closure of the Port of Baltimore following a bridge collapse could cause shipping delays for some manufacturers, though the full impact is uncertain[85](index=85&type=chunk) [Results of Operations](index=21&type=section&id=Results%20of%20Operations) Detailed analysis of Q1 2024 operating results, showing 8.2% consolidated revenue growth, segment performance for U.S. and U.K., and gross profit trends | Consolidated Performance | Q1 2024 | Q1 2023 | % Change | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Total Revenues | $4,470.5M | $4,130.0M | 8.2% | | Total Gross Profit | $742.6M | $727.9M | 2.0% | | New Vehicle Retail GP/Unit | $3,601 | $4,710 | (23.5)% | | Retail New Vehicles Sold | 44,302 | 39,649 | 11.7% | - U.S. same-store revenues increased **4.5%**, driven by higher unit sales in new and used vehicles and growth in parts & service, while total same-store gross profit was nearly flat, decreasing **0.1%** due to significant margin compression in new vehicles[98](index=98&type=chunk)[101](index=101&type=chunk)[106](index=106&type=chunk) - U.K. same-store gross profit fell **10.3%** on a constant currency basis, driven by margin declines across all business lines, particularly new and used vehicles[115](index=115&type=chunk)[122](index=122&type=chunk) - Consolidated floorplan interest expense increased **62.6%** to **$20.5 million**, and other interest expense rose **48.9%** to **$29.3 million**, primarily due to higher inventory levels and increased borrowings for acquisitions[129](index=129&type=chunk)[132](index=132&type=chunk)[135](index=135&type=chunk) [Liquidity and Capital Resources](index=32&type=section&id=Liquidity%20and%20Capital%20Resources) Details financial position, reporting **$463.2 million** total available liquidity, reconciled cash flows, and debt covenant compliance | Liquidity Source | Amount (in millions) | | :--- | :--- | | Cash and cash equivalents | $41.9 | | Floorplan offset accounts | $180.4 | | Available capacity under Acquisition Line | $240.8 | | **Total liquidity** | **$463.2** | - Adjusted net cash provided by operating activities decreased **10.4%** to **$170.9 million** in Q1 2024 from **$190.8 million** in Q1 2023[143](index=143&type=chunk)[144](index=144&type=chunk) - Adjusted net cash used in investing activities increased significantly to **$590.6 million**, primarily due to a **$571.9 million** increase in acquisition activity compared to the prior year quarter[143](index=143&type=chunk)[145](index=145&type=chunk) - The company was in compliance with its debt covenants, with a total adjusted leverage ratio of **2.45** against a requirement of less than **5.75**[151](index=151&type=chunk) [Share Repurchases and Dividends](index=35&type=section&id=Share%20Repurchases%20and%20Dividends) Details Q1 2024 capital return program, including share repurchases for **$53.8 million** and a **$0.47** per share quarterly cash dividend - In Q1 2024, the company repurchased **203,350 shares** of common stock at an average price of **$264.41** per share, for a total of **$53.8 million**[153](index=153&type=chunk) - A quarterly cash dividend of **$0.47** per share was approved and paid during the quarter[154](index=154&type=chunk) - As of March 31, 2024, **$89.6 million** was available for future repurchases under the existing share repurchase authorization[153](index=153&type=chunk) [Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk](index=35&type=section&id=Item%203.%20Quantitative%20and%20Qualitative%20Disclosures%20about%20Market%20Risk) States that the company's exposure to market risk has not materially changed since December 31, 2023, referring to the 2023 Form 10-K - The company's exposure to market risk has not changed materially since December 31, 2023[156](index=156&type=chunk) [Controls and Procedures](index=35&type=section&id=Item%204.%20Controls%20and%20Procedures) Management concluded that disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2024, with no material changes to internal controls during Q1 2024 - The principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2024[157](index=157&type=chunk) - No changes were made to the internal control over financial reporting during Q1 2024 that have materially affected or are likely to materially affect the controls[159](index=159&type=chunk) [PART II. OTHER INFORMATION](index=36&type=section&id=PART%20II.%20OTHER%20INFORMATION) [Legal Proceedings](index=36&type=section&id=Item%201.%20Legal%20Proceedings) The company is not party to any legal proceedings expected to have a material adverse effect on its operations, financial condition, or cash flows - The company is not currently involved in any legal proceedings expected to have a material adverse effect on its financial results[162](index=162&type=chunk) [Risk Factors](index=36&type=section&id=Item%201A.%20Risk%20Factors) Confirms no changes to Risk Factors previously disclosed in the 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K - There were no changes to the Risk Factors disclosed in the 2023 Form 10-K during the first quarter of 2024[163](index=163&type=chunk) [Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds](index=36&type=section&id=Item%202.%20Unregistered%20Sales%20of%20Equity%20Securities%20and%20Use%20of%20Proceeds) Reports no unregistered sales of equity securities and details common stock repurchases totaling **$53.8 million** during the quarter | Period | Total Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid per Share | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Jan 2024 | — | $— | | Feb 2024 | 174,964 | $264.88 | | Mar 2024 | 28,386 | $261.52 | | **Total** | **203,350** | **N/A** | - As of March 31, 2024, **$89.6 million** was available for future repurchases under the current share repurchase authorization[166](index=166&type=chunk) [Other Information](index=36&type=section&id=Item%205.%20Other%20Information) Reports no director or officer adopted or terminated a Rule 10b5-1 or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement during Q1 - No director or officer of the company adopted or terminated a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan during the first quarter of 2024[167](index=167&type=chunk) [Exhibits](index=37&type=section&id=Item%206.%20Exhibits) Provides an index of exhibits filed with the Form 10-Q, including corporate governance documents, credit agreements, and CEO/CFO certifications - The report includes a list of all exhibits filed, such as amendments to credit agreements and CEO/CFO certifications pursuant to Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act[170](index=170&type=chunk)

Group 1 Automotive (GPI) reported first-quarter 2024 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $9.49, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.52 and falling 13.2% year over year. The automotive retailer registered net sales of $4.5 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.3 billion. Also, the top line rose from the year-ago quarter’s $4.13 billion.Quarter HighlightsNew vehicle retail sales increased 11.6% from the prior-year quarter to $2.18 billion and exceeded our projection of $1.98 billion on t ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2024, Group 1 Automotive reported adjusted net income of $130 million and an adjusted diluted EPS of $9.49, with total revenues reaching $4.5 billion, marking the highest first-quarter revenues in company history [11][92] - The company generated $171 million of adjusted operating cash flow and $128 million of free cash flow after accounting for $43 million in capital expenditures [15] - Quarterly floorplan interest increased to $20.5 million, up $7.9 million from the prior year due to higher inventory holdings [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Parts and service revenue reached an all-time high of $576.2 million, supported by strong performance across all business lines [11] - F&I gross profit per unit was $2,340, showing a minimal decline on a same-store sequential basis but a 3% increase year-over-year [12] - Used vehicle gross profit per unit improved by $229, or 20% on a sequential quarter basis, indicating resilience in vehicle demand despite market pressures [35] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the U.K., revenues improved with new vehicle sales and parts and service growing by 10% and 9% respectively, although new vehicle margins declined [13] - The U.S. operations saw new vehicle units sold increase by 8% on a same-store basis and 14% on a reported basis, reflecting strong demand [33] - The company reduced used vehicle inventory by 12 days, from 58 days at the end of Q4 2023 to 46 days in Q1 2024 [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The acquisition of Inchcape Retail is seen as a generational opportunity to grow and enhance operational capabilities, with expectations of immediate EPS impact [8][92] - The company emphasizes a disciplined capital allocation strategy, focusing on acquisitions, share repurchases, and dividends, while divesting underperforming stores [17][18] - Management believes that close partnerships with OEMs are crucial for success in the current competitive environment [10][106] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the resilience of vehicle demand and the potential for improved performance throughout the year due to recent cost-cutting measures [21][36] - The company anticipates continued pressure on used vehicle finance penetration but expects improvements in new vehicle finance penetration due to increasing OEM incentives [12] - Management highlighted the importance of adapting to market conditions and leveraging technology to optimize operations [28][95] Other Important Information - The company reported a cash liquidity of $222 million and an additional $241 million available to borrow on its acquisition line, totaling $463 million in immediate liquidity [98][99] - Adjusted SG&A as a percentage of gross profit increased by 260 basis points year-over-year to 65.7%, but remains below pre-COVID levels [96] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the benefits of the Inchcape acquisition? - Management highlighted the exceptional talent and management depth at Inchcape, which is expected to address previous management issues in the U.K. and enhance operational performance [43] Question: Can you provide details on the acquisition costs in Q1? - The acquisition price for Inchcape included real estate valued at GBP 220 million, with the remainder attributed to goodwill and net assets, all acquisitions fell within the company's targeted return model [46] Question: How is the company addressing the collision and wholesale parts business? - Management noted that the collision business has been impacted by insurance companies totaling more vehicles due to falling used car valuations, affecting the wholesale parts business as well [57] Question: What is the outlook for leasing in the U.S. market? - Leasing as a percentage of new vehicle sales increased by 460 basis points year-over-year to 18.6%, indicating a positive trend despite a slight decline in the quarter [65] Question: How is the company managing SG&A costs? - Management indicated that SG&A as a percentage of gross is expected to continue to decrease, with ongoing efforts to optimize costs and improve efficiency [61][84]